Electrical connector



Dec. 16, 1941.

R. J. THERIAULT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed May 1, 1941 HOV/ 2 Sh eets-Sheet 1 Inventor Dec. 16, 1941. J THERLAULT 2,266,130

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed May 1, 1941 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lm enmr Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Ralph J. Theriault, Hadlock, Wash.

Application May 1, 1941, Serial No. 391,400

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electrical connectors and more particularly to a plug such as used in conjunction with electric irons, toasters and various other household appliances.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a connector which is quickly detachable requiring substantially no efiort on the part of the operator.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a quickly detachable electric connector which will alleviate strain on the usual conductor now occasioned by pulling on the conductor when disconnection of the connector is desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational'view.

Figure 2 is an edge elevational View.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the stationary jaw elements.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that a case is provided and constructed of some suitable insulation and consists of substantially fiat sections A and B. Each of these sections A and B has a channel extending therethrough and opening through the butt end as at 5. When the sections A, B are placed together and secured by bolts 6 and nuts 1, these channels define passageways -8, 8 for the reception of electric appliance connector prongs (not shown). The material between the said channels which form the passageways 8, 8 define islands 9 which abut as shown in Figure 4, the bolts 6 extending through these abutting islands when the case sections are in assembled relation.

In each of the passageways 8 is a clamp structure generally referred to by numeral l0. Each of these clamp structures consists of an elongated jaw plate H having an offset end portion l2 fitting into an offset slot or pocket [3 in the outermost ends of the islands 9. The inner end portions of the plate I l are provided with ears M on which car portions l5 of pivotal jaw elements l6 are pivotally secured as at [1. The pivotal jaw elements iii are elongated and each at one end has a laterally curved portion l8 to facilitate reception of an appliance connector prong between itself and the adjacent end portion of a jaw plate H. The other end portion of the pivotal jaw l6 is in the form of a shank l9 provided with a handle 20 which extends through the corresponding opening 5 and is suitably knurled or roughened as at 2| to facilitate gripping.

A strip spring 22 is interposed between the in nermost portion of each plate II and the shank of the corresponding pivotal jaw [6. As can be seen in Figure 3, the spring extends to the innermost portion of the corresponding jaw plate I! where it is secured by a binding screw 23, this screw also serving to secure a conductor of a cord 24 to the plate ll. As can be seen in Figure 3, the butt portion of the case is transversely grooved as at 25 so as to receive the cuff portion 26 of a cord protective spring 21.

It can now be seen that when removing the connector from the prongs of an electrical appliance, all that is necessary is to contract the handles 20 so as to swing the pivotal jaws l6 outwardly from the plate I I, after which an outward movement of the connector from the appliance connector prongs will completely separate the connector from the prongs without practically any effort on the part of the operator.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

An electrical connector comprising a flat casing having a square front end and a tapered rear end and including a longitudinal central partition, and a pair of longitudinal channels therein upon opposite sides of said partition, respectively, and with front ends opening onto said front end of the casing and rear ends openings onto opposite side edges of said tapered rear end of said casing, a pair of straight elongated jaw plates in said channels fixed to opposite sides of said partition, respectively, to extend longitudinally thereof and flat against the same, a pair of laterally extending ears on each jaw plate adjacent the inner ends of said channels, a pair of elongated pivoted jaw members complemental to said jaw plates, respectively, swingable on theears of the complemental jaw plates for movement between said ears and in said channels into and from clamping relation to said jaw plates, said jaw members embodying a pair of hand grip ends extending obliquely therefrom out of said rear ends of said channels, and a pair of leaf springs interposed between said hand grip ends and said jaw plates and tensioning the jaw members against swinging from clamping relation.

RALPH J. THERIAULT. 

